Smoke victim fights for life (From The Bolton News)

Smoke victim fights for life

A MAN is fighting for his life after inhaling toxic smoke in a flats blaze.

The 22-year-old Atherton man is in a critical condition in the Murrayfield Hospital on the Wirral after a fire broke out in his home.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey block of flats in Elmfield Avenue at 4.30am on Saturday.

The crews, made up of 15 firefighters from Atherton, Hindley and Leigh, arrived to find flames bellowing out of the building and two men trapped inside in two separate flats.

Crew members fought through flames to rescue the 22-year-old, who was trapped in the flat where the blaze is believed to have started. They then crossed the hallway to save his neighbour, 29-year-old Stuart Roberts.

Paramedics treated both men at the scene and they were rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The 22-year-old victim was transferred to the Murrayfield Hospital, where he is being treated for severe toxic smoke inhalation. His condition is described as "very, very poorly".

Mr Roberts was discharged from the Royal Bolton Hospital on Monday morning.

He is now back at his parents home in Windermere Avenue, but has been badly shaken by his terrifying experience.

Mr Roberts said: "I feel much better than I did last night, I'm just very, very tired and weak.

"I didn't see what happened because my front door was shut, but I woke up because I could smell something strange.

"I opened my front door and the smell of burning and the crackling sound of fire hit me.

"I tried to get out, but the fire had spread too close to my flat.

"I ran to my front window and starting shouting for help, and then into my kitchen and carried on screaming, but by that time the fire engines and ambulances had arrived."

Mr Roberts added: "It was the most terrifying thing I have ever been through and I'm not sure if I'll be able to go back and live in the flat."

It is believed the fire started in the bathroom of the first floor flat, but police and fire fighters are unsure what caused it. They are working together to investigate the scene.